DALLAS --7‑Eleven Inc. celebrates a generation of good behavior this year with the 20th anniversary of its Operation Chill incentive program. For two decades, U.S. police officers have been “ticketing” kids they catch doing good with Operation Chill FREE Slurpee drink coupons. Many of those kids are adults now, and may even have children of their own who are eligible to receive a frozen beverage treat, compliments of 7‑Eleven stores.
Through Operation Chill, officers from participating local police and sheriff departments can hand out the special free Slurpee citations during the summer and back-to-school season to youngsters caught in the act of doing good. Appropriate “offenses” might include helping another person, deterring crime or participating in a positive activity in the community. Each coupon can be redeemed for a small Slurpee drink at participating 7‑Eleven stores.
This year, 7‑Eleven will distribute up to 1.25 million Operation Chill coupons to approximately 885 local law enforcement agencies. Since the program’s inception in 1995, nearly 14 million coupons have been given to law enforcement agencies across the country where 7‑Eleven operates stores to award to kids in their communities.
“I don’t know who likes the Operation Chill program more, police officers or kids,” said Mark Stinde, 7‑Eleven’s asset protection vice president. “Police officers have told us they love to approach kids and surprise them with a Slurpee coupon, just for being good citizens.”
Operation Chill was developed by 7‑Eleven to reward and encourage good behavior by kids during the hot, summer months when communities often experience a rise in loitering, shoplifting and graffiti and to support law enforcement agencies’ community relations projects. Begun in Philadelphia to give local officers a positive reason to interact with children and teens, police not only use the Operation Chill program to reward youth for their good deeds, but also to enhance their relations with the young people of their city.
“For 20 years, Operation Chill has been rewarding kids for their good behavior being positive role models,” said Nancy Lear, 7‑Eleven senior manager of corporate social responsibility and community relations. “Kids especially need to be recognized when they’re caught making the right or a good decision, not just when they mess up. Every year, more law enforcement agencies learn how Operation Chill helps community policing and interaction with their youngest citizens and have signed up. We hope they and 7‑Eleven can reach new generations with this frozen treat for years to come.”
Cities participating in this year’s program include: Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, San Diego, San Francisco, Orlando, Tampa, Dallas, Denver and Las Vegas.
Dallas-based 7‑Eleven operates, franchises or licenses nearly 10,500 7‑Eleven convenience stores in North America. Globally, there are more than 56,200 7‑Eleven stores in 16 countries.
National Root Beer Float Day
Separately, Sheetz Inc. celebrated National Root Beer Float Day on August 6, 2015. In honor of the day, Sheetz loyalty card holders will be able to purchase Sheetz’s new Barq’s Root Beer Float for $1.99 at all of its convenience stores.
The chain recently launched the Barq’s Root Beer Float. This new menu addition combines the sharp taste of Barq’s root beer with the sweet, refreshing flavor of vanilla ice cream. The new Barq’s Root Beer Float is one option on the Sheetz frozen beverage menu, from which any item can be made to order. Sheetz’s frozen beverage line has a variety of options for customers to choose from including f’real milkshakes, fruit smoothiez, frozen lattes, frozen mochas and frozen creamz featuring flavors like hazelnut, caramel and banana among others.
Altoona, Pa.-based Sheetz operates approximately 500 convenience stores throughout Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Ohio and North Carolina.
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